As a new blogger, I am always working on my business and finding new ways to grow it. This has meant that I have put my own needs on the back burner for too long now.
I often find myself feeling drained and exhausted at the end of each day; this is because I don’t take enough time for myself. I get so caught up in what other people need from me that it can be easy to forget about what I need from myself.
With the daily hustle-and-bustle, it can be hard to find time for ourselves. We're constantly on the go, multitasking and trying to get everything done in so little time. But it’s important that we make some time for ourselves. It's vital that we take care of ourselves mentally, physically, and emotionally so we can continue to function at a high level every day.
After reading this blog post, you will learn 8 tips on how to find time and "catch-up" with yourself to keep your sanity!
List all the things that you want/need to do for yourself
Schedule time for yourself
Find what works best for you
Create an action plan
Take a break from social media
Try to sleep more
Get up earlier or be a productive night owl
Exercise and/or stretch regularly
1) List all the things that you want/need to do for yourself
Don't limit yourself when it comes to your list. Include everything from big things like booking a massage to small things like taking a walk in nature or making your bed. Other examples could include: a bubble bath, going to a brunch, reading a book, listening to a podcast, meditating, exercising, a spa day, getting your nails done, etc.
2) Find what works best for you
Everyone has different needs when it comes to self-care. Prioritize your list based on how important it is for you to do it and how easy it will be for you to fit it into your schedule. This practice will help you identify what activities are most important to start with first and what activities might need further consideration later on due to how hard they may fit into your schedule or limited resources. Sometimes it's not even the schedule that limits us, sometimes it's whether we can afford it financially at this time.
3) Schedule time for yourself
Even though we have busy schedules, there should always be some time set aside for self-care. Schedule this time into your phone calendar (possibly with an alarm) so you don’t forget about it or push it off until later in the day when you may not have any energy left!
Whether it’s 10 minutes during lunch or before bedtime, schedule something weekly so you won’t feel guilty about not having done it later on down the road!
Personally, I find joy in scheduling time during my commute to and from work to listen to a wholesome podcast or listen to an audiobook. I find that it is more fulfilling for my personal growth journey than listening to music or a radio station.
4) Create an action plan
Action plans are great to keep you on track if you're not used to finding the time to take a moment for yourself. Assign a self-care task over the next week or month depending on how long it will take you to complete each task. This step ideally should compliment step #3.
Next, make sure to put it on a calendar or some kind of scheduler/reminder that works for you so that you actually stick to it. When you trick your brain into that it is a task you've gotta complete, you're more prone to get it done rather than telling your brain that your self-care activities are a "nice to have" activity.
5) Take a break from social media
Social media can be a great tool for connecting with friends and family but it can also become a black hole for time. If you're constantly checking Facebook, Instagram or Tik Tok while at work or during personal time, then try taking a break from it for a few days at least once every week (or month).
It will allow you more time to catch up on tasks that need attention instead of spending valuable time scrolling through your newsfeed. As a Tik Tok addict myself, I know this is very hard to do, especially when you open your phone and your finger goes on autopilot to just click on the app. If it is harder than you expected it to be, try limiting the amount of time you're in it daily and you will get better as you progress.
The point is, be proactive about your time and energy!
6) Try to sleep more
I get it, this could be especially hard if you have little ones running around. Believe me, between managing teams, are work, running after an energetic toddler, and going to grad school, I know what it feels like to barely have good sleep. Sometimes coffee doesn't work and the dark under eyes seems to be more of a permanent style for me nowadays.
I always do my best to get as much sleep as I need because your body eventually tells you when you need to seriously take a moment to wind down. If you get more sleep, it is no rocket science that you will feel more energized in the mornings to start you day just right.
7) Get up earlier or be a productive night owl
I completely understand if this isn't possible for everyone. Depending on work/life schedules, your day may end very late. Also, I get it. Not everyone is a morning person (I support your snoozers).
But if you can manage it then do it! Getting up earlier really helps in getting ahead on your day. This is especially true if you have a family to take care of. This is "you" time and it can get you in the right headspace to get your daily tasks done.
When the dreaded afternoon energy dips hit, it won't feel like such a blowout because you've already got a good chunk of your tasks done.
But again, only if this step works best for you. Don't feel bad if it takes longer than usual to wake up in the morning because your body needs more rest. If you're not getting enough sleep then you'll be tired and grumpy all day long — which means no one wants to be around that person!
If you're a night owl, refocus your time during the night while everyone else goes to sleep to get things done. This is perfectly alright. Not everyone works the same way. So instead of trying to change your natural tendencies, embrace them and make them work for you.
8) Exercise and/or stretch regularly
Ok, this sounds cliche (I know, I know) but hear me out! Working in an office job myself, where I'm constantly sitting, I feel my mobility and joint movements going down the drain. Sitting all day kills your body's ability to be flexible and mobile.
I personally like to hit the gym as a stress reducer, not because I am to have abs of steel. Are you kidding me? I love and indulge in chocolate too much. And don't judge me, I never said I was perfect (upside side happy face).
If hitting the gym is not your thing, it doesn't have to be! Performing simple stretches or just taking a walk around the block can help your blood flow go and perhaps release enough endorphins to heighten your energy levels. Exercises can also help you get better sleep throughout the night if you struggle with this.
A final thought on "catching-up" through self-care
It's important to remember that self-care doesn't have to be a huge investment of your time. In fact, the best way to care for yourself many times will be by simply making a small addition to your daily routine. We're creatures of habit, so again, embrace who you are and don't over-stress about the need to take care of yourself. Adding stress to self-care activities defeats the whole purpose of building a better you for sanity's sake.
Whether you're looking for a new morning routine or winding down before ending your day, I hope you'll find value in some of these ideas. They work for me, so I hope that some will work for you. Whatever you choose, remember that it's always worthwhile to put your health and happiness first.
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